Applications are now open for the 2027 Voqal Partners Fellowship, a six-month opportunity designed for social justice changemakers with bold, early-stage ideas for creating a more equitable future.

The fellowship is aimed at people who recognize problems within their communities and have a strong vision for doing things differently, even when the idea is still at an early stage. Fellows receive $30,000 in unrestricted funding, coaching, mentorship and access to a small peer community to help them move from an idea to real-world experimentation.

About the Voqal Partners Fellowship

The Voqal Partners Fellowship supports individuals who are developing new approaches to social justice challenges in the United States.

Unlike programmes that require a fully developed organization, product or campaign, the fellowship welcomes dream-stage and idea-stage projects. Applicants do not need to have everything figured out. What matters is having a compelling vision, an understanding of the change they want to create and a practical sense of where they could begin.

Each year, Voqal Partners selects a small cohort of fellows who spend six months developing, testing and learning from their ideas.

Who Should Apply?

The fellowship is intended for social justice changemakers, organizers, community leaders, builders and visionaries with ideas that could contribute to a more equitable society.

Voqal Partners particularly values applicants who:

• Have lived experience connected to the issues they are addressing
• Work directly within the communities they seek to serve
• Represent communities that have historically been excluded from philanthropy
• Are developing ideas that challenge existing systems
• Have a clear vision of the change they want to create
• Have an initial understanding of how they could begin testing or developing their idea

The organization particularly encourages applications from LGBTQIA+ individuals, women, Indigenous peoples, people of color and people with disabilities.

What Voqal Partners Looks For

Dream-Stage or Idea-Stage Projects

The fellowship is designed for ideas that are still being developed. Applicants do not need to have a finished organization, product or campaign.

A Compelling Vision

Successful ideas should have the potential to challenge existing systems and pursue meaningful structural change rather than simply making current systems easier to navigate.

A Path Forward

Applicants should have some initial thoughts about what they want to build, test or learn during the fellowship.

Community Connection

Projects should be connected to the people most affected by the issue being addressed. Voqal Partners places importance on community participation and lived experience.

Fellowship Alignment

Applicants should be able to explain how the funding, coaching and peer community provided through the fellowship could help move their idea forward.

Fellowship Expectations

The fellowship runs from April through September 2027.

During the programme, fellows are expected to:

• Work on their fellowship project throughout the programme
• Attend three in-person convenings in April, July and September
• Participate in monthly cohort calls
• Engage with coaches and advisors
• Share their learning and experience at the conclusion of the fellowship

Fellows are allowed to pursue other work during the programme, although the fellowship project is expected to remain their priority.

Important Dates

• Applications Open: September 2026
• Application Deadline: October 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time
• Interviews: January 2027
• Fellows Selected: February–March 2027
• Opening Convening: April 2027
• Fellowship Period: April–September 2027
• Middle Convening: July 2027
• Closing Convening: September 2027

Virtual Information Sessions

Two virtual information sessions are available for prospective applicants. Both sessions cover the same information, so applicants only need to attend one.

• Session 1: September 18, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern / 9:00 AM Pacific
• Session 2: October 14, 2026, at 4:00 PM Eastern / 1:00 PM Pacific

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is October 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.